Obituary

Kimberly Hudson

April 5, 1977 - January 2, 2026

Kimberly Hudson, 48, of Ceresco passed away on January 2nd, 2026, surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy of devotion to family, education, and kindness that will be felt by many. She was born on April 5th, 1977, in Grand Island to Thomas and Diana (Lange) Merriman. 

Kim graduated from Clarks High School in 1995 and went on to begin her studies at Nebraska Wesleyan University the following fall. In 1999, she proudly earned her bachelor’s degree. She later obtained two master’s degrees in education from Doane University, further deepening her passion for teaching and service.

On August 8th, 1998, she married the love of her life, Jim Hudson. Together they built a beautiful life and, in the summer of 2000, made their home in Ceresco. That fall, she began teaching at Raymond Central, where she spent 25 years teaching second grade. Most recently, she served as an interventionist, continuing to support and uplift students in new and meaningful ways.

She was a beloved educator who treated every student as if they were her own. Her classroom was a place of warmth, encouragement, and care, and her impact will live on through the countless lives she shaped.

Outside of her work, she found joy in reading, tending to her flower beds, sipping Dr Pepper, and immersing herself in the world of Harry Potter. She loved time spent at the beach, but nothing brought her greater happiness than being with her husband and their three daughters, who were the center of her world.

She will be remembered for her generous heart, unwavering dedication, and the love she gave so freely to her family, students, and community.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Hudson; three daughters, Kelsey (Ian Picquet), Abigail (Rylan Stover), and Lily Hudson; her mother, Diana Merriman; brother, Tim (Janet) Sabin; sisters, Cindy (Earl) Reyner and Jackie (Shawn) Shores; as well as many nieces and nephews, Ali (Jimmy) White, Katie (Devin) Wratchford, Jeremiah Reyner, Joshua (Mariah) Reyner, Jacob Reyner (Brandon Kleier), Payton Shores, Kennedy Shores, and Reagan Shores; two great nieces and three great nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Merriman; her grandparents; her mother-in-law, Faun Hudson; and her nephew Aaron Overman.

The family will greet friends on Friday, January 9th at the Ceresco Covenant Church, 208 W Pine Street in Ceresco, from 5-7p.m. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10th at 10:30 a.m. at Raymond Central High School.

Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation; checks may be made out to Jim Hudson care of First Northeast Bank in Ceresco.

Services

January9

Visitation

CST

Ceresco Covenant Church

208 W Pine Street, Ceresco, NE 68017

January10

Memorial Service

CST

Raymond Central High School

1800 W Agnew Rd, Raymond, NE 68428

Share a Memory or Condolence

January 7, 2026

Kim was teacher to my 2 boys and she was so good with them. My oldest was a challenge, but she was patient and kind. My youngest could also be stubborn and she saw through that to his wit. A big memory was how she would bring pumpkins for the Halloween party and her class would carve them, then she would take them to display at her house along with the countless others her family carved for Halloween night. It was fun to go there and look for your child’s jack o lantern. She also loved the zoo and made sure that her end of year field trip was to Henry Dorley zoo in Omaha. She will definitely be missed, but we will never forget her.

– Brenda Buechter
January 7, 2026

I’ve met Kim only a few times through her husband, Jimmy. It didn’t take long to figure out how kind, warm, and graceful this young lady was. Jimmy, I’m so sorry for your loss. My deep condolences to all family.

– Bill Norris

Obituaries & Services

Donald Hardinger

1/11

Shirley A. Sims

2/11

William Kortus

3/11

Kimberly Hudson

4/11

Dennis Berens

5/11

Franklin Ellsworth Gaines

6/11

Merlin R. Campbell (aka Papa Smurf)

7/11

Leona M. Briggs

8/11

Larry W. Post

9/11

Caryl Greathouse

10/11

Chandler (Chan) A. Tyrrell

11/11

Never miss an obituary, sign up for email or text message notifications

We’re here

Grief Support

We understand that grieving doesn’t end after the service. We offer Aftercare for grief support as you process and heal from your loss.

Learn More